William haslam



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. HASLAM.

DEVIGE FOR OPERATING GAR PLATFORM GATES. No. 340,309. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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llVVE/VTOR ATTORNEY N. PETERS PhnwLMhognphcr, washmgmn, D. C.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

Y W. HASLAM.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING GAR PLATFORM GATES.,

No. 340,309. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

WI-TIVESSE /7%/ WQAM ATTORNEY N4 PETERS. Phamuum n nen Walhmglolv, 0.6.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE,

JOSEPH J. BISEL,

OF SAME PL ACE.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR-PLATFORM GATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,309, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed August 2'3, 1895.

T (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HASLAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain platforms, and more especially to those which operate such doors or gates simultaneously on several ears or all the cars of a train.

The said invention consists in the combination of a series of rods--one to each car-running under each side of a train with devices for partly rotating the rods on each side, coup lings which connect the ends of said rods, and gearing whereby their axial motion is trans mitted to the safety-doors, so as to open or close the latter.

It also consists in the antomatically-detachable couplings interposed between the ends of the rods, which allow the latter to turn, and also offer no impediment to the separation of the cars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view, taken from below, of doonclosing devices applied to cars and embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the contiguous parts of two cars provided with the coupled safety-dooroperating devices. Fig.3 represents a detail perspective view of the two coupling-pieces slightly separated from one another. Fig. 4 represents the operating levers and racks of the door-operating rods and the end of the ear to which they are applied.

One series is shown in open position and one in closed position in the above figures.

A designates the car-bodies, having platforms A; and B, the safety-gates, which are attached at their inner edges to vertical rods 0, so as to open and close with the turning of said rods. The latter are mounted freely in bearings 0, attached, respectively, to the ends Serial No. 175,047. (No model.)

1 platforms A, and they are provided at their lower ends with bevel gear-wheels I). These wheels mesh with similar wheels, E, on the longitudinal rock-shafts F, which turn in bearings f, attached to the bottom of said carbodies.

Instead of wheels D E, segments may be employed, as no more than a partial rotation is needed.

The rockshafts F are arranged in two longitudinal series running under each side of the train, each series being operated independently, and opening and closing the plat-form doors or gates of that side only. These rockshafts are turned for that purpose by levers rods, each lever G being provided with a notched segmental rack, H, whereby'it may be retained in the position which holds the doors open, orin that which holds them closed. Instead of a lever and rack, the ordinary brake-Windlass may be used, with retaining pawl and ratchet, and bevel-gearing between its shaft and the rock-shaft F. The rock-shafts F are bifurcated at their contiguous ends, to receive the pivoted coupling-pieces I J, the former of which consists of a rod or bar having two lateral studs, it, on the opposite sides of its outer end, while the coupling-piece J, which is heavier, has longitudinal channels j cut in the-sides of its main channel J to receive them. The main channel J receives the end of bar I, and these channels J j together allow free play of said pieces I J as the shaft turns, while retaining them coupled, so as to transmit motion from one shaft F to the other without binding. In turning a curve the flexibility of this connection is also valuable.

Under ordinary circumstances the coupling is secure; but whenever the cars are separated the pieces I J draw into line with one another, and the studsi pull out of the channels j without obstruction or resistance, said channels J j being open at the free end of piece J. This avoids all risk of injuring the safety-door-opcrating devices when the cars are separated, either accidentally or by intention, and may prevent one car from being drawn off the track after another. The weight of grooved coupof said bodies A and the under side of the ling-piece J holds this and its companion piece G, which are arranged one to each series of 1 downward, so as to be in proper position for uncoupling. I

I am aware that it is not new to operate the steps of a train of cars by a series of cranks and rotatable shafts or rods, the latter being jointed together and operating at will to fold up said steps or let them down at will. I am also aware that it is not new, broadly, to connect rods running from car to car by couplings which allow endwise motion without separation, such couplings having been used in devices for unlocking all the doors of a train of cars at once. I do not claim either of these constructions; nor do I broadly claim such a coupling, per se; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the safety doors or gates of a series of cars and the axiallymovable rods to which they are attached, the longitudinal rock-shafts F, flexible couplings between said shafts, gearing connecting them respectively with said rods on each side of the train, and levers for actuating the said shafts, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the safety doors or gates of a series of cars and the axially-movable rods to which they are attached, the longitudinal rock-shafts F, the gearing connecting the said shafts to said rods, the levers for actuating said shafts, and two coupling-pieces between each two of said shafts, said couplingpieces being longitudinally movable with respect to one another, for the purpose set forth.

3. The grooved pivoted coupling-piece J, having the grooves open at their outer end, in combination with the corresponding pivoted coupling-piece, I, having studs 1', which move in said grooves and may be drawn out at the end thereof, the shafts F, to which said coupling-pieces are respectively attached, the rods which turn the safety-doors, and the intervening gearing, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a pair of rock-shafts and door-operating rods actuated thereby, a pair of couplingpieces between said shafts, which are automatically detachable on the separation of the cars, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. WILLIAM HASLAM.

Witnesses:

HENRY M. BoYn, WM. G. IIASLAM. 

